Pitchfork

Just weeks after Ol' Dirty Bastard's sudden death in a Manhattan recording studio, the beginning of the last chapter in his sadly truncated career has been announced. Jarred Weisfeld, ODB's manager, and his mother, Cherry Jones, recently revealed that they have formed a new record label (Jarred Cherry Records), apparently created for the sole purpose of releasing posthumous ODB product. The first album on the docket, entitled Osirus (also one of ODB's many aliases), is scheduled to be released January 4th.

According to Billboard, Osirus will contain 15 new tracks from the famed Wu-Tang member. "Dirty's legacy will continue through this album, his music, his DVD [forthcoming] and his clothing line for all eternity," Weisfeld said in a statement. The album will feature collaborations with such guests as Rahzel, the Mountain Brothers' Chops, Mark Ronson and Kdef (aka Ghostface Killah). "Pop Shots (Wu-Tang)", the album's first single, was produced by DJ Premier (Nas, Mos Def, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G.).

JC Records is also looking toward the future, with a couple of announced projects and the promise of more in the works. Next up will be an album, scheduled for a March release, featuring artists who had worked with ODB... although we have no clarification on an album title, artist listing (for example, is ODB even on it?), or precise release date.

Meanwhile, the album that ODB was working on at the time of his death-- his debut for Roc-A-Fella records-- is reportedly being prepped for an early 2005 release.

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